What is it like to be a dedicated runner year round in northern new england??

Dartmouth teams have had pretty good success. Stretch in the field house then hit the roads, I suppose. Seems like a beautiful place to train for most of the year.

malmo wrote:

OLD SMTC SOB wrote:

When I got back and took a hot shower..............well I don't need to tell you how painful it was. No lasting damage however :)

First and last rule on frozen rope. DO NOT TAKE A HOT SHOWER.

You change into dry clothes. Then thaw out under the blankets. Only THEN can you take a hot shower.

HA! yes but then I was young and stupid now I'm old and stupid but i did learn that lesson pretty quick :)

Base runner wrote:

OP here, thanks all for the ideas. I'm in Vermont and will get with some cross country skiers. I like the idea of looking at winter like a good opportunity to try new things.

I endorse this strategy. Had my best racing season at 30, following a winter of 4-5 days/week on x-country skis. Mostly classic, although skating is supposed to be better prep for running.

Western MA isn't Northern NE. That said, from December through February I find myself resorting to the treadmill more and more. This was especially true last winter, which was pretty brutal. Once upon a time I wouldn't have blinked at the combination of darkness, high snow banks, and two-lane roads. The older and wiser me opts for 45-60 minutes on the treadmill, which, as others have noted, can be great for tempo runs and hill workouts. Good tunes help.

Enjoy what sounds like it'll be your first VT winter. Go to a x-country ski area that sets good tracks and take a lesson or two. Especially if you haven't been an alpine (downhill) skier, start with classic technique. It'll feel more natural than skating and very quickly you'll be putting in fun 1 hr+ workouts in beautiful surroundings.

N Mich wrote:

Come run all winter over here in Traverse County Mich. if you want some real winter training.

Have, also have run in Chicago, which I thought was worse. Neither as bad as "up Maine," in my opinion.

I ran on a road by the coast the last couple years, because the roads were generally clear, by virtue of the fact that the wind coming off the water blew away most of the snow. It was powder all winter, never melted or crusted up once.

The worst thing, when it's -10 out , not counting the windchill, is that the ocean spray would freeze in the air. It would freeze very fine, I assumed this had to do with the salt content in the water, and the wind would blow it, and you would be running in a cloud of frozen vapor. It's what the fishermen call "wet cold." It goes right through you unless you are wearing something waterproof. Ugg... It makes me wonder how the Indians ever lived up in northern New England.

Northern VT. No treadmill for me, even though I have free access at a couple different places. Winter time I only run 2-3-4 days/week, mostly outdoors but sometimes I'll go on the indoor track where I coach (jogging track with notched corners not a real track that you'd race on) to get a run in. It's 8 to the mile up above the rec courts, so not bad if intramurals are going on and really not bad if you want to do a pace workout and run even. Outdoors I find having people to run with is a huge motivator. I have 2 groups I show up to run with year round. Once you get moving it's not bad. When there is a lot of snow or ice we'll go into neighborhoods where we can run down the middle of the streets.

Been doing this for 31 years, not that big a deal. Would rather deal with a few months of cold and occasional snow than a bunch of months of heat.

d2xccoach wrote:

Winter time I only run 2-3-4 days/week,

He said what's it like to be a DEDICATED runner

I switched to Nordic skiing and never looked back. Less pounding on your joints, and more fun. Plus you fly on the downhills.

As much as I hate LS kids I gotta say I'm interested in the workout.

What do you mean by 3-4 phone poles. Do you mean like the distance between phone poles on a road?

Proper running gear. People always ask me if I run outside in the winter. I do but you have to have proper gear. They have warming/cooling technology and waterproof gear. Under Armor is the best I've tried. Leggings/pants need to have this as well. On top of that, gloves, hats, and face covers. Run loops. Don't go out 7 miles in a blizzard, turn around and be like oh SH… I learned in really bad conditions to just run mile/2mile loops around my area. I NEVER run on busy roads. I would rather run in 10 inches of snow.

Don't run in slippery conditions and opt for a treadmill or even snow covered trail over this.